A fascinating account of the world's famous explorers, including the early travelers in ancient times, the discovery of the New World, explorations in Africa and Australia, and the expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. Many of the explorers tell part of their story in their own words. Amply illustrated with reproductions of early maps and charts, as well as old woodcuts, drawings, paintings, and miniatures. Emphasis is placed on the explorers' 'record of splendid endurance, of hardships bravely borne, of silent toil, of courage and resolution unequalled in the annals of mankind, of self-sacrifice unrivalled and faithful lives laid ungrudgingly down.' Ages 12-18

527 pages

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VANCOUVER DISCOVERS HIS ISLAND

[357] WHILE Mungo Park was attempting to find the course of the Niger, the English were busy opening up the great
fur-trading country in North America. Although Captain Cook had taken possession of Nootka Sound, thinking it
was part of the coast of New Albion, men from other nations had been there to establish with the natives a
trade in furs. The Spaniards were specially vigorous in opening up communications on this bleak bit of western
coast. Great Britain became alarmed, and decided to send Captain Vancouver with an English ship to enforce her
rights to this valuable port.

Vancouver had already sailed with Cook on his second southern voyage; he had accompanied him on the
Discovery during his last voyage. He therefore knew something of the coast of North-West America.
"On the 15th of December 1790, I had the honour of receiving my commission as commander of His Majesty's sloop
the Discovery, then lying at Deptford, where I joined her," says Vancouver. "Lieutenant Broughton
having been selected as a proper officer to command the Chatham, he was accordingly appointed. At day
dawn on Friday the 1st of April we took a long farewell of our native shores. Having no particular route to
the Pacific Ocean pointed out in my instructions, I did not hesitate to prefer the passage by way of the Cape
of Good Hope."

In boisterous weather Vancouver rounded the Cape,
[358] made some discoveries on the southern coast of New Holland, surveyed part of the New Zealand coast, discovered
Chatham Island, and on 17th April 1792 he fell in with the coast of New Albion. It was blowing and raining
hard when the coast, soon after to be part of the United States of America, was sighted by the captains and
crews of the Discovery and Chatham. Amid gales of wind and torrents of rain they coasted
along the rocky and precipitous shores on which the surf broke with a dull roar. It was dangerous enough work
coasting along this unsurveyed coast, full of sunken rocks on which the sea broke with great violence. Soon
they were at Cape Blanco (discovered by Martin D'Aguilar), and a few days later at Cape Foulweather of Cook
fame, close to the so-called straits discovered by the Greek pilot John da Fuca in 1592. Suddenly, relates
Vancouver, "a sail was discovered to the westward. This was a very great novelty, not having seen any vessel
during the last eight months. She soon hoisted American colours, and proved to be the ship Columbia,
commanded by Captain Grey, belonging to Boston. He had penetrated about fifty miles into the disputed strait.
He spoke of the mouth of a river that was inaccessible owing to breakers." (This was afterwards explored by
Vancouver and named the Columbia River on which Washington now stands.)

Having examined two hundred and fifteen miles of coast, Vancouver and his two ships now entered the
inlet—Da Fuca Straits—now the boundary between the United States and British Columbia. All day
they made their way up the strait, till night came, and Vancouver relates with pride that "we had now advanced
farther up this inlet than Mr. Grey or any other person from the civilised world."

"We are on the point of examining an entirely new region," he adds, "and in the most delightfully pleasant
weather." Snowy ranges of hills, stately forest trees,
[359] vast spaces, and the tracks of deer reminded the explorers of "Old England." The crews were given holiday, and
great joy prevailed. Natives soon brought them fish and venison for sale, and were keen to sell their children
in exchange for knives, trinkets, and copper. As they advanced through the inlet, the fresh beauty of the
country appealed to the English captain: "To describe the beauties of this region will be a very grateful task
to the pen of a skilful panegyrist—the serenity of the climate, the pleasing landscapes, and the abundant
fertility that unassisted nature puts forth, require only to be enriched by the industry of man with villages,
mansions, and cottages to render it the most lovely country that can be imagined."

A fortnight was spent among the islands of this inlet, which "I have distinguished by the name of Admiralty
Inlet," and on 4th June 1792 they drank the health of the King, George III., in a double allowance of grog,
and on his fifty-fourth birthday took formal possession of the country, naming the wider part of the strait
the Gulf of Georgia and the mainland New Georgia. The two ships then made their way through the narrow and
intricate channels separating the island of Vancouver from the mainland of British Columbia, till at last,
early in August, they emerged into an open channel discovered by an Englishman four years before and named
Queen Charlotte's Sound. Numerous rocky islets made navigation very difficult, and one day in foggy weather
the Discovery suddenly grounded on a bed of sunken rocks. The Chatham was near at hand, and at
the signal of distress lowered her boats for assistance. For some hours, says Vancouver, "immediate and
inevitable destruction presented itself." She grounded at four in the p.m. Till two next morning all hands
were working at throwing ballast overboard to lighten her, till, "to our inexpressible joy," the return of the
tide floated her once more. Having
[360] now satisfied himself that this was an island lying close to the mainland, Vancouver made for Nootka Sound,
where he arrived at the end of August.

VANCOUVER'SSHIP, THEDISCOVERY, ONTHEROCKSIN QUEEN CHARLOTTE'S SOUND.

At the entrance of the Sound he was visited by a Spanish officer with a pilot to lead them to a safe anchorage
in Friendly Cove, where the Spanish ship, under one Quadra, was riding at anchor. Civilities were interchanged
"with much harmony and festivity. As many officers as could be spared from the vessel and myself dined with
Senor Quadra, and were gratified with a repast we had lately been little accustomed to. A dinner of five
courses, consisting of a superfluity of the best provisions, was served with great elegance; a royal salute
was fired on drinking health to the sovereigns of England and Spain, and a salute of seventeen guns to the
success of the service in which the Discovery and Chatham were engaged." But when
the true nature of Vancouver's mission was disclosed, there
[361] was some little difficulty, for the Spaniards had fortified Nootka, built houses, laid out gardens, and
evidently intended to stay. Vancouver sent Captain Broughton home to report the conduct of the Spaniards, and
spent his time surveying the coast to the south. Finally all was arranged satisfactorily, and Vancouver sailed
off to the Sandwich Islands. When he returned home in the autumn of 1794 he had completed the gigantic task of
surveying nine thousand miles of unknown coast chiefly in open boats, with only the loss of two men in both
crews—a feat that almost rivaled that of Captain Cook.

It has been said that Vancouver "may proudly take his place with Drake, Cook, Baffin, Parry, and other British
navigators to whom England looks with pride and geographers with gratitude."

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